The Preschool Staff
Talofa lava!
My name is Selau Alice Kaleopa. A passionate centre manager committed to growing capacity and confidence within my teaching team to support, engage, develop, inspire and grow the love of learning within our learners.
Selau Alice Kaleopa
Preschool Manager
My name is Vanessa Rota and with over 25 years of experience in early childhood education, I am genuinely passionate about fostering meaningful relationships with tamariki, whānau, and the wider community. I believe that strong, respectful partnerships create the foundation for confident and happy learners. My practice is guided by warmth, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to creating environments where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered to shine. I am dedicated to nurturing not only the learning of our tamariki, but also the connections that bind whānau and communities together.
Vanessa Rota
Preschool Teacher
Namaste!
My name is Davina and I am an educator from Fiji with a genuine passion for working with people of all ages and backgrounds. I like to bring empathy, understanding, and a strong sense of family values into my teaching practice.
With 18 years of early childhood teaching experience and 13 years in primary education, I have developed excellent classroom management skills and the ability to create stimulating, engaging, and challenging learning environments. I take pride in being honest, trustworthy, and well-organised, and I enjoy supporting and supervising other teachers. I deeply respect and value all cultures, and I am committed to teaching with patience, warmth, and professionalism, ensuring that every child feels safe, included, and inspired to learn.
Davina Lal
Preschool Teacher
Talofa lava everyone!
My name is Verneese Ioane, but you can call me Vee.
I am proudly Samoan and come from a family of seven; my mum, dad, three brothers, one sister, and myself.
I believe that children learn best through free play, as it allows them to develop new skills, discover their interests, and explore the world at their own pace. I am passionate about getting to know each child, their whānau, and their culture, and weaving these into my teaching practice.
My favourite part of being a teacher is having the privilege to watch children grow, being part of their learning journey, supporting their understanding, and seeing them blossom into confident, and independent individuals.
My name is Verneese Ioane, but you can call me Vee.
I am proudly Samoan and come from a family of seven; my mum, dad, three brothers, one sister, and myself.
I believe that children learn best through free play, as it allows them to develop new skills, discover their interests, and explore the world at their own pace. I am passionate about getting to know each child, their whānau, and their culture, and weaving these into my teaching practice.
My favourite part of being a teacher is having the privilege to watch children grow, being part of their learning journey, supporting their understanding, and seeing them blossom into confident, and independent individuals.
Verneese Ioane
Preschool Teacher
Talofa lava!
My name is Makayla Vaa, and I am a 21-year-old Wellington-born Samoan woman currently living in Auckland due to my parents’ ministry work in Drury. I have 3 siblings and I am the eldest of them all. I am deeply passionate about supporting and engaging with our tamariki, and it has long been a dream of mine to build a career in Early Childhood Education.
Throughout my college years, I completed several ECE-related courses that strengthened my knowledge, confidence, and understanding of early learning. I have also had the privilege of completing multiple placements working closely with young tamariki, which has further confirmed my love for this field. These experiences have equipped me with patience, empathy, and a genuine joy for helping children learn, grow, and thrive.
I am excited to continue this pathway and contribute meaningfully to an Early Childhood centre that values care, learning, and connection.
My name is Makayla Vaa, and I am a 21-year-old Wellington-born Samoan woman currently living in Auckland due to my parents’ ministry work in Drury. I have 3 siblings and I am the eldest of them all. I am deeply passionate about supporting and engaging with our tamariki, and it has long been a dream of mine to build a career in Early Childhood Education.
Throughout my college years, I completed several ECE-related courses that strengthened my knowledge, confidence, and understanding of early learning. I have also had the privilege of completing multiple placements working closely with young tamariki, which has further confirmed my love for this field. These experiences have equipped me with patience, empathy, and a genuine joy for helping children learn, grow, and thrive.
I am excited to continue this pathway and contribute meaningfully to an Early Childhood centre that values care, learning, and connection.
Makayla Vaa
Preschool Teacher
